THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
SINGAPORE, MAY 30, 2026
India’s premier men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag
Shetty, delivered a commanding performance to upset reigning world champions
Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea in straight games and secure a
place in the men’s doubles final of the Singapore Open Super 750 tournament
here on Saturday.
The fourth-seeded Indian duo registered their maiden victory over the
Korean pair in three meetings, clinching the semifinal encounter 21-19, 21-18
in 52 minutes. The impressive win also propelled them into their second BWF
World Tour final of the season.
The 2025 World Championships bronze medallists have been in excellent
form this year, having finished runners-up at the Thailand Open earlier in the
season.
In Saturday’s high-intensity semifinal, Satwik and Chirag showcased
remarkable resilience and composure, recovering from significant deficits in
both games against the formidable Korean combination.
The Indian pair trailed 8-13 and later 13-17 in the opening game before
producing a spirited comeback, displaying exceptional control under pressure to
snatch the game from their opponents.
“When we were down, we kept calm
and backed ourselves because we knew if we stuck to our plan, they would crack
at some point,” Chirag said.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with the Indians trailing
11-14 before mounting another comeback. They reeled off six consecutive points
to surge ahead 17-14 and maintained their momentum to seal the match and book
their place in the final.
Reflecting on the challenge posed by the Korean duo, Chirag added: “They
have the best defense on the circuit right now. We knew we had to stay calm and
steady, especially when attacking.”
Satwik and Chirag will now face the third-seeded Indonesian pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the summit clash as they chase their first title of the season.
Meanwhile, India’s campaign in the mixed doubles category came to an end after Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto suffered a hard-fought semifinal defeat. The Indian pair went down 16-21, 21-17, 13-21 against Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami and Sayaka Hobara, falling just one step short of a place in the final.
